Progress Made: A Board Member Returns to Kibera

by Amy Auguston

As Vice President of the Uweza Board of Directors, I receive nearly daily updates on our programs and beneficiaries on the ground. I’ve also spent two stints volunteering in Kibera with Uweza. So I generally feel well acquainted with the excellent work that Uweza is doing.

Coming to Kibera again this time, nonetheless, has been an enlightening, revitalizing experience.   I have spent the last week and a half in Kibera visiting and working with Uweza's projects. I’m in awe of the progress we’ve made, the community we’re helping to invigorate, and the beneficiaries empowered and nurtured by Uweza’s programs. Seeing the impact firsthand has been exhilarating, humbling, and emotional.

Soon after my arrival, I made my first visit to the Uweza Community Center, which was purchased in May 2012. Managing Director Jen and I had been trudging through the familiar streets of Kibera, crowded, dusty, and sometimes frenetic. Coming into the gates of the center was like entering an oasis of quiet and serenity. The walls are brightly painted and decorated, the premises are sparkling clean, and there are friendly faces to greet each visitor.

The center allows a safe, positive atmosphere for children and young adults to express themselves. Thomas, the journalism teacher and a well-known radio reporter in his own right, leads more than 30 youths in lessons and exercises in writing, researching, interviewing, and photography. You can read some of the students’ work here on the Uweza blog. 

Teacher Thomas, left, and journalism club members view their photos in the Uweza office

Wanderer, an established painter and a Kibera native, teaches students about identifying and mixing colors, and how to paint the landscapes of their mother country. The walls of the art room are resplendent with color wheels and paintings of the art class.

Uweza art class student paints her color wheel

I’ve also visited the soccer fields where nearly one hundred children play, learning teamwork and discipline under the dedicated tutelage of their coaches. The girls’ team, led by coach Joyce, is especially inspiring. The girls learn about how to strengthen and take care of their bodies, during the tumultuous time of adolescence and young adulthood. 

Uweza girls team at training

Another program, after school tuition, provides extra school instruction in the afternoon, to further help the students to succeed academically. The children also receive nourishing uji (porridge) to help them continue to study. The older boys at tuition told me that the Uweza Community Center allows them a safe place to read and study, and to stay away from bad influences like drugs and alcohol. “It saves us from walking up and down the streets. Here we can focus and study,” said one high school tuition student.

The highlight of my trip so far might be meeting the two girls (ages 8 and 14) who I sponsor through Uweza. Over the past years I’ve seen their pictures, read their letters, and gotten updates about them from Uweza staff on the ground. Meeting them and their families in person was emotional. The girls seemed shy and overwhelmed, and I felt much the same way. It’s an incredible experience to know that you have helped someone that you have never met, that you have made a huge difference with so little. Sponsoring them has been one of the best experiences of my life, and I hope that I can sponsor another child through Uweza soon.

Amy, center, with sponsored student Cynthia, right, and her cousins

While I’m here, I’m also gathering feedback from our program beneficiaries and their parents, through focus groups and one-on-one interviews, to learn more about what is good in the programs and what we can improve. Stay tuned on the blog for more information and highlights of the feedback received.

Kibera Has Talent

Story by Rebecca Musanga
Photos by Rebecca Musanga and Nicholas Gisemba

The fourth annual Children of Kibera Music Festival, which took place at Kibra Academy over the weekend was the place to be, on 22nd and 23rd June. This year’s theme was responsible  leadership in elective positions where over thirty primary and secondary schools participated including: Kibra Academy, Olympic Primary, Ayany Primary, Baraka Za Ibrahim Secondary school. Dance groups were also part of the event as they showcased their talents in the art world. Some of the participating  groups included Kibera Hamlets and The Girls Soccer Academy, which entertained the people present.

The performances had  participating schools pass different messages and themes in relation to  good governance, education, election violence, peace, political instability, among others. These were well portrayed by solo and choral verses not forgetting dances which incorporated both traditional and modern dances.  A lot of creativity was shown in terms of costume, choice of narration, words and types of dances performed but the judges were looking for the most outstanding performance to earn the most awaited trophy.

Different organizations were present, including Uweza Foundation as we were invited to have the opportunity of having our own table.  A team of some of the youth from our soccer and journalism programs explained to Kibera children what we do as Uweza. We were able to recruit more kids into our existing programs and welcomed those with an interest in journalism, art and soccer to register and leave their contacts with us.  We also displayed some of the paintings from our art program, which attracted a lot of interest.

Uweza's table at the event

The event was sponsored Children of Kibera, an NGO working in Kibera.  On the open air stage the competition kept getting stiffer since every school wanted to be the best.  Dressed in different attires, the students and pupils out did each other with an aim of winning an award.

And as the event entered the second day, all participating schools had an opportunity to convince the judges why they deserved to win in different categories. Judges had a very tough time coming up with the best performance because all the schools did their best.  Upon completion of all the performances it was time to announce the winners. Kibera Glory Secondary School took the trophy for the best overall performance since they won many trophies. Both the secondary and primary students had a moment to shed tears of joy as they lifted their trophies high as they danced to different tunes. This proved that their effort was worth it as the day came to an end.

Some of the winners celebrate as they accept their trophies

It then started raining as a sign of blessing to the whole event.  What a well spent two days seeing the talents among the Kibera community which can be nurtured to greater heights.

More photos of the event can be seen here.

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Rebecca Musanga and Nicholas Gisemba are members of the Uweza Journalism Club. 

A Brighter Tomorrow

by Thomas Bwire

It’s just after 5.30pm on a Wednesday and the children all sitting on the benches in one of the Uweza tuition classrooms look busy. Some can be seen writing part of work given by the teacher in charge. While for some, its porridge time besides having to keep up with given tasks. 

Students completing an assignment

The children are sitting on brown  wooden benches in the classroom made of iron sheets.  After looking around the classroom set up, one can easily see some of the teaching aids on manila paper neatly hanged on the wall and some hanging across the roof.

At one of the corners is the teacher Harriet Luvaga, who in charge, and she is checking through some of the books of the children present. The day’s session is meant for revision of the just concluded middle of the term exams that most of the children had done from their respective schools the previous week.

Teacher Harriet with some of her students

A chat with Trizah Achieng, a standard two student who goes to school at Kibera Primary School, reveals that she loves to come to the evening tuition program because she loves to read a lot. “Here the teacher helps me to get to know how to read better,” says Trizah.  These sentiments are also echoed by Francisa Maloba who attends school at Tunza School and is also in standard two. She also loves coming to the tuition program to get time to read and get assisted to read better.

Teacher Harriet at work

While interviewing teacher Harriet I learn that she handles classes of children from baby class up to standard three pupils. In a normal day, she has to look for a general topic that cuts across all grade levels so that it becomes easier for all the children to understand. “You need to bring your understanding to a lower level of the kids so that by the end of the day, you have one thing that can be memorable to them.  This is because most of the kids a had a long day at their respective schools .” 

The main aim of the tuition program is to help each child get better in their school grades and help with their homework so that by end of the school term, there is a slight difference in terms their grades and they have learned more from their school education.

Students enjoying a cup of porridge

This program normally runs from 4pm to 6.30pm during the week and on weekends, kids get to rest.  With Uweza’s objective, investing in the community to alleviate poverty, the future of these youngsters is gradually growing to a brighter tomorrow.

Home Visits

by Thomas Bwire

The sloppy terrain filled with litter of all kinds is what we had to experience during our home visits within Kibera slums. Our mission with Mathew Muema, Sponsorship Coordinator was to get to see how some of the children under Uweza's sponsorship program live with either their parents or guardians.

It took roughly less than 10 minutes to arrive at our first house from the center. Here we found Alphonce Otieno in his school uniform eagerly waiting for us. Their one room house is situated in Gatwekera village. Alponce, a total orphans, stays with an aunty who is very kind and takes care of him as if he is her own child. After greetings, Mathew introduced me and went ahead to explain that our main mission was to pay a visit and find out the progress of the children under the sponsorship program. Before we left, Aphonce received a shoe polish and water guard for purification of their drinking water at home.

Alphonce Otieno with his younger cousins

Our next stop was to Edward Kuremi, who lives in the same village as Alponce, though some distance apart. We found his mother in the one-room shanty iron structure house that stood just next to the road side.   One thing that quickly strikes you as a first time visitor to this area is the fact that the house stands between local pubs, with loud music emanating from them.  One could easily wonder if the noise pollution levels can affect a school going child staying here and if still he can still do well academically. Kuremi attends school at Toi Primary and is now in class five. Her mother struggles to put food on the table as she does not have a stable source of income. She too received the small bottle of water guard and shoe polish for her son.

Sponsorship Coordinator Mathew with Mama Eduward Kuremi

There on, we had to take a longer walk to another village known as Kianda. It took us roughly 10 minutes before arriving at Charles Omondi's home. Charles goes to Olympic High School and is now in his third year. Charles is an orphan and he is taken care of by his aunt.  His aunt lives with 14 children in a single semi-permanent room and that forces Charles to sleep in another houses that belongs to a good Samaritan, who offered him a place to sleep. The aunty was very happy to see us and appreciated work done by the Uweza family in assisting some of the needy children with education, which plays a key role in shaping life.

Our last stop was at Dennis Odhiambo’s home. He lives with his parents, both have un- stable jobs as the mother sells roosted maize for survival to keep the family up and running. His dad is not working and cannot be able to support the family yet. Currently Dennis is undertaking a vocational training in electrical installation at a technical training center in Kibera.

Dennis Odhiambo, center, with his mother and younger brother

Truly that was an experience of a life time, having to see where some of our sponsored children do come from. I got to know some of the hardships they undergo, like poor sanitation facilities as well as what it takes to put food in the table so that a brighter future can be achieved despite challenges  coming from their homes.

To sponsor a student in the Uweza Sponsorship Program, please visit http://www.uweza.org/sponsorship

The Talking Box

by Thomas Bwire

Its on a Wednesday  morning hours as the cold chilly weather seems to take a toll on everyone as people seen walking along parts of the slum are warmly dressed with heavy jackets and scarves. As I walk through the slum, many local residents are busy with their day to day tasks as a way to get the day’s income. My walk from Olympic to Mashimoni takes roughly 30 minutes.

My mission today is to visit one of the local primary schools called Magoso. As I enter the school premises, I find some of the girls in brown sleeveless uniforms rehearsing for the up-coming music festivals slotted for this term. I am welcomed by the head teacher whom calls the patron of the Talking Box Club, madam Maureen Awour.  The Talking Box is a box for pupils to lodge written messages about issues that they cannot share openly with either parent or a guardian.

Madam Maureen with students Berlyl, Linn and Valerie

Issues range from child molestation, neglect and abuse that relate to gender based violence (GBV). according to Madam Maureen, girls are prone to abuse in the community. In most cases girls will be given two weeks to draft all the issues they feel should be addressed, and drop it into the talking box within the school premises. Many of the issues that kids write come from home. “You find that at home the father leaves and goes to drink alcohol and come home late and drunk and starts to insults the wife in front of the children.  Or even they start to engage in sexual activity without giving kids respect before they are asleep, and this becomes a problem to the children, as they don’t know these are bad behaviors in front of children,” notes madam Maureen.

And what are the main issues that affect girls? I posed this question to Madam Maureen. "We found out that girls are not ready to tell us their problems and we saw the need for them to write their issues on pieces of paper so as it helps us solve the problems they encounter. In most cases they are shy to tell us teachers directly," she says.

The Talking Box

The Talking Box is a program that was started in 2011 by Polycom Development Projects, a local community-based organization in Kibera slums. Once the girls write their issues and drop them into the talking boxes, a team of volunteers pick them and reads through to access the kind of issues that have been adversely mentioned then discuss pupil's problems with their teachers. In some serious cases, pupils are involved one on one with the volunteers.

Jane Anyango,founder of the Talking Box says they discovered that girls had many unresolved issues when they used to hold local forums, and even at such forums many of the girls feared to talk their issues out openly.  "We could not accommodate all the girls so that’s how we came up with this concept," she tells me.

Jane Anyango, Founder of Polycom Development Projects

According to Jane, many of the issues coming up heavily touch on gender based violence. “Many parents fight and if want to ask something, you don’t know who to approach the dad or your mum, since after a quarrel, the child becomes a platform of realizing all the stress, and kids end up stressed up as the home becomes a battle field. Also girls are so confused on relationship issues with boys, many don’t understand what needs to be done since as a society, boys will want to befriend the girls and they don't know how to respond," says Jane.

I managed to talk to a few of the pupils from Magoso primary about why they think it’s important make use of the talking box.  One of  the girls was happy that the talking box helped them since they didn’t have sanitary pads.  "Once we wrote it down, a good Samaritan was able to donate them to our school," she tells me.

An example of one of the notes in the box

Another student, who is 13 years old and a class eight pupil notes that some of the parents touch their kids private parts, like breasts, like they want to have sex with you and the child fears to say no, because of threats that nothing of this nature should be disclosed to any one or they will be punished.  She says that such a child should write her problem and post it into the talking box for help.

Girls especially face extra obstacles to education, these range from lack of sanitation facilities and sanitary napkins to teenage pregnancy, according to a 2008 report by the Centre for the Study of Adolescence in Kenya.

The Talking Box Program now runs it in 12 schools, all of which are in Kibera. The program also plans to open a counseling center as a way to give a listening ear to girls and will also target boys in the near future.

World Environment Day

The Kibera community was not left out in celebrating the World Environment Day, an annual event that is aimed at being the biggest and most widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action. The day presents several activities taking place all year round that climax on 5 June every year, involving everyone from everywhere.
 
Local residents from Makina village had an opportunity to participate in this global day that saw some of them come out to clean the drainages alongside their homes. This was done by using some rakes to remove dirt and litter along the banks of the streams of dirty water. The cleaning exercise was organized by one of the organizations known as Umande Trust.

Kibera residents participating in a clean up

Fred Amuok, the communication officer of Umande Trust noted that it was important to come out and join local residents in sensitizing them on importance of having a cleaner environment.“We are trying to educate our people to take care of the environment, by even planting trees besides doing clean-ups,” noted Fred.

Fred Amuok of Umande Trust

One of the participants Mr. Jacob Mudaki a member of Jasho Letu self help group also shared his sentiments, that they came to educate the community on how they can preserve the environment as the world marked this important day. “There is need to start educating our brothers and sisters that it takes individual commitment on how we dispose litter, garbage and how we preserve the environment,” says Jacob.  Jacob also urged some of the local non-governmental organizations to look for ways of partnering with each other in helping preserve the environment.

Jacob Mudaki, left, of Jasho Letu Self Help Group talks to Thomas Bwire of Uweza

World Environment Day celebration began in 1972 and has grown to become  one of the main vehicles through which the UN stimulates worldwide awareness of the environment and encourages political attention and action.  Through World Environment Day, the UN Environment Programme is able to personalize environmental issues and enable everyone to realize not only their responsibility, but also their power to become agents for change in support of sustainable and equitable development.

World Environment Day is also a day for people from all walks of life to come together to ensure a cleaner, greener and brighter outlook for themselves and future generations.  Everyone counts in this initiative and World Environment Day relies on you to make it happen!

Aspire Football Dreams Selection in Kibera

by Mathew Musyoka Muema 

On Thursday 31st May, Kibera football players gathered at Uweza's field at Toi Primary School in hopes of being selected to receive a scholarship to the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Qatar.  The Aspire Football Dreams scouting program is the world's largest-ever football scouting program.  It began in Africa but has since spread to 16 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The Aspire program is run in East Africa by Vision 21 Sports Consulting.  Uweza met one of Vision 21's staff in 2009 and was able to become one of 100 centers in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda) tasked with recruiting players to go to Qatar. 2012 is Uweza's second year of participating in the program.

Aspire staff member, Uweza Assistant Team Manager, and Aspire scout

Aspire scouts visit each of the 100 centers to select 50 players to attend the Final 50 Camp, held at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi from 6th to 9th June. This year, a very impressive four Kibera players (including one from Uweza's team) were scouted from Uweza's center to be part of the 50 to move on to the next stage.  Only a few players will be selected from the Final 50 to travel to Qatar.

Players participated in a series of matches to showcase their talent

I had the chance to interview some of the people involved on Thursday, here is what they had to say:

Coach Said, Uweza Aspire Center Coordinator: 

"We have held this Aspire program for two years now and I am happy our center produced four players.  Last year, only one player was selected so this means we are working hard and we have talent."

"We did have challenges, like the event being held on a school day, which meant that the turnout of players was low.  The program asks for players who are 13 years old but if you bring players that age, they are too young so we learned the lesson from last year and brought older players this year.  All of the players should continue to believe in themselves and coaches should encourage them."

From left: Uweza Sponsorship Coodinator Mathew, Uweza TM Stam, Kibera Stars Coach Ken, Uweza Aspire Coordinator Said, Uweza Aspire Physiotherapist Mobi, Uweza Aspire Assistant Coordinator Joash, Uweza Assistant TM Tilen

Charles Omondi, Uweza Senior Team Assistant Captain and Selected Player

"I enjoyed playing today and being selected to go to Kasarani," Charles told me with a big smile on his face. "The advice from our coaches was the best advice.  I am disappointed because some of the best players from our team were not selected and they deserved to be. I wish all the players would always follow the coaches instructions, because it helps."

Coach Stam, Uweza Team Manager and Senior Team Coach

"Charles is very lucky but I will express my feelings if he becomes one of the top three at Kasarani.  I'm happy our center was able to produce four players and have a lot of talent.  The scout mentioned that we have a good team of players which was very encouraging." 

The four selected players, from left: Felix Onyango, Charles Omondi, Joshua Kitheka, and Douglas Nyangareli

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Mathew Musyoka Muema is Uweza's Sponsorship Coordinator. He formerly coached the Uweza Under-16 team and still volunteers as a coach regularly.